New HAWK beacons installed on Tuckerman Lane in Bethesda

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich

HAWK signals also

coming soon to 

Friendship Heights

Montgomery County has activated new HAWK beacon signals on Tuckerman Lane in Bethesda, at the crossing with the Bethesda Trolley Trail. HAWK beacons flash yellow after a pedestrian presses the signal button, turn solid yellow and then red to stop oncoming cars. The pedestrians attempting to cross then receive a walk signal. They are a way to increase safety at crosswalks away from traffic signals without constantly stopping traffic flow like a traditional traffic signal; the HAWK signal only stops traffic when there is actually someone trying to cross the road.

“This represents the latest milestone in our efforts to increase the walkability of our communities,” Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich said Monday. “Our residents have a right to safe crossings as they move around the neighborhood, shop and run errands.” The next HAWK signal to be installed countywide will be on Willard Avenue at The Hills Plaza, in the Village of Friendship Heights.

Montgomery Mall gift wrapping benefits Friends of Patients at the NIH

Last-minute shoppers can save time on gift wrapping, and raise spirits of patients being treated at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, at Westfield Montgomery Mall. Bring your purchases to the pop-up Gift Wrapping center on Level 1 by Zara. Most boxing and wrapping will cost you from $5 to $12, and all proceeds will go to provide emotional and financial support to NIH patients through Friends of Patients at the NIH, and to the NIH children's cancer charity Special Love.

Bethesda construction update: Maizon apartments (Video+Photos)

Construction continues down in the excavated site of the future Maizon Bethesda apartments at Arlington Road and Edgemoor Lane. I've been hearing a lot of complaints about the noise from nearby residents, and about the way the pavement on Arlington Road has been severely damaged and just left that way. Watch the crane in big-time action in this video:

What's going on over here?

Time to call in reinforcements

The crane is picking something up

Bringing in Earthmover Jr.

Lowering him into the pit

And he's already at work

Seating appears on Ourisman Honda 'Capital Crescent Trail plaza

Seating for the new Capital Crescent Trail plaza by Ourisman Honda in downtown Bethesda has arrived. The dealership is providing the plaza in exchange for having built into public rights-of-way along the trail with its new garage. The seating is unique in design, both for the X-configuration of some of the benches, and the fact that they do not appear to be "homeless-proof" in contrast to other public seating in downtown Bethesda.

Wienermobile visits Westbard in Bethesda

An incredible event took place in Bethesda yesterday. The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile visited the Westwood Shopping Center in the Westbard area Thursday morning. After tooling around the upper parking lot, the Wienermobile eased to a stop in front of the Giant grocery store.

What a fitting event, the hot dog equivalent of a presidential visit, as the Montgomery County cartel is poised to demolish this classic shopping center. Now that Esskay has ceased hot dog production, Oscar Mayer is the undisputed best hot dog in America - in particular, the classic chicken and pork Oscar Mayer franks. What an honor, then, to host the famous Oscar Mayer Wienermobile right here in Montgomery County.

Chase Bank coming to Montrose Crossing

A vacant bank was fenced off earlier this year at the Montrose Crossing shopping center. Now the identity of the new bank is known. Chase Bank will be opening here in 2020. Construction is now underway to modify the bank to J.P. Morgan Chase specifications.

Pitango Gelato opening in Bethesda

Pitango Gelato is expanding to downtown Bethesda. The chain serves Italian gelato and vegan sorbets using organic, grass-fed milk and fresh fruit. They've opened stores in the District, Northern Virginia and Baltimore, but this will be their first Montgomery County location. Pitango will be located at 4901-A Fairmont Avenue, formerly home to Tapabar and Blackfinn. "Coming Soon" signage appeared in the windows there Wednesday.

Montgomery County stagnant or getting worse in all key areas, residents say

Montgomery County's elected officials haven't improved any major area of concern or crisis, residents say in a new County-operated survey. Vast majorities countywide say there has been no progress or improvement in the moribund County economy, Montgomery County Public Schools, traffic congestion, crime and public safety, quality of life or the environment in the last two years.

86% of residents say there has been no improvement in availability of affordable housing. 76% feel there has been no improvement in crime prevention and public safety. A whopping 87% found no improvement in traffic congestion over the last two years. In fact, it's getting worse.

63% of residents say there has been no improvement in MCPS, which has declined steadily over this decade, as test scores and graduation rates plummeted and an achievement gap worsened. Yep, that's getting worse, too. But rather than improve failing schools, the corrupt MoCo cartel is trying to ready a forced busing strategy that failed nationwide decades ago, and is preemptively calling those who favor neighborhood schools "racists" and "white supremacists" - terms regularly deployed as the nuclear option when one has lost a debate on the facts.

Montgomery County's stagnant economy reached rock bottom in the region this decade, and residents' opinions squarely reflect that reality. A powerful 69% of residents say there has been no improvement in job growth. 61% report no improvement in business growth. Montgomery County ranked at the bottom in the region on both measurements this decade.

Progressive and green Montgomery County is leading the nation in environmental policy, our elected officials assure us weekly. Mmm...not so much, counter Montgomery County residents. 68% of residents say the environment hasn't improved, or has gotten worse, since 2017. 66% responded that quality of life opportunities in the county - the arts, culture, recreation and libraries - have either not improved or have gotten worse.

Bethesda construction update: Anthony's Coal-Fired Pizza (Photos)

Here's an update on the interior construction at Anthony's Coal-Fired Pizza in the 7770 Norfolk Avenue apartment tower in downtown Bethesda. The exterior detail of the actual coal-fired oven has become more complex since the initial installation several weeks ago. A New York subway-style wall tile has appeared on some wall/column surfaces. That is balanced by darker tile, wood, and brick on other surfaces.

Pieology closes at Bethesda Row

The closure of Pieology at Bethesda Row I reported last week is now official. After only two-and-a-half years, the pizzeria has closed and the windows are papered over. It will be replaced by Heyday, a "modern facial shop," next year.

7-Eleven still crawling toward opening at Montgomery Mall

It's been nearly a year since I first reported 7-Eleven would open a new Bethesda location at Westfield Montgomery Mall, and opening day doesn't seem much closer than it did back then. A peek inside the screens around the convenience store's future spot at the edge of the Dining Terrace finds little sign of any significant construction, aside from a 7-Eleven-esque bit of green paint near the ceiling.

All work done so far is still on the basic shell of the interior, as opposed to counters and shelving. At this point, I'm not expecting this store to open while they still have the Mountain Dew Merry Mash-up Slurpee for the Christmas season.

WMATA tries to fix Bethesda Metro escalator leak (Video+Photos)

Metro riders have noted water leaks over the underground escalators at the Bethesda Metro station for many years. Last night, WMATA contractors began a new effort to try and stop these leaks. In 2014, the transit agency cited the property owner above the station as the responsible party for the water - which sometimes becomes icicles in the winter. Saturday night, workers were focused on an area close to the Hyatt Regency Bethesda hotel.

A crane was brought in to lift heavy concrete. This required closure of the driveway and main entrance to the Hyatt lobby. "This is ridiculous," one arriving hotel guest exclaimed as he attempted to find another way into the hotel, while pulling a wheeled piece of luggage behind him. The Hyatt set up an outdoor front desk, complete with space heaters, in the 43 degree night air. Employees attempted to use the al fresco desk to sign in lodgers, and valet park vehicles.